Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Geopolymer Foams from Natural Zeolite Tuffs and Silica Fume: Effects of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and Calcium Stearate on Foam Properties
The need for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient building materials has increased significantly. This study synthesizes geopolymer foams with enhanced thermal insulation properties using silica fume and natural zeolite tuff. Zeolite’s porous structure and active sites improve polymerizatio...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/6/970 |
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| author | Ethem Ilhan Şahin Jamal-Eldin F. M. Ibrahim |
| author_facet | Ethem Ilhan Şahin Jamal-Eldin F. M. Ibrahim |
| author_sort | Ethem Ilhan Şahin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The need for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient building materials has increased significantly. This study synthesizes geopolymer foams with enhanced thermal insulation properties using silica fume and natural zeolite tuff. Zeolite’s porous structure and active sites improve polymerization and strengthen the foam, while silica fume reacts with NaOH to release sodium silicate, forming a durable geopolymer matrix. Foam porosity is introduced by generating oxygen gas from H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and NaOH, with calcium stearate stabilizing the foam structure. Comparative analysis of the compressive strength, bulk density, porosity, and thermal conductivity shows that incorporating H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and calcium stearate significantly reduces thermal conductivity (from 0.19 to 0.06 W/m·K) while ensuring a highly porous system (66–82.6% porosity) with adequate mechanical strength (1.6–3.39 MPa). These findings highlight the potential of the developed geopolymer foam for sustainable insulation applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7b3d5c86b54c416fa8cb7bcb26b9456c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-7b3d5c86b54c416fa8cb7bcb26b9456c2025-08-20T02:42:39ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-03-0115697010.3390/buildings15060970Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Geopolymer Foams from Natural Zeolite Tuffs and Silica Fume: Effects of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and Calcium Stearate on Foam PropertiesEthem Ilhan Şahin0Jamal-Eldin F. M. Ibrahim1Advanced Technology Research and Application Center, Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University, 01250 Adana, TurkeyInstitute of Ceramics and Polymer Engineering, University of Miskolc, H-3515 Miskolc-Egyetemváros, HungaryThe need for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient building materials has increased significantly. This study synthesizes geopolymer foams with enhanced thermal insulation properties using silica fume and natural zeolite tuff. Zeolite’s porous structure and active sites improve polymerization and strengthen the foam, while silica fume reacts with NaOH to release sodium silicate, forming a durable geopolymer matrix. Foam porosity is introduced by generating oxygen gas from H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and NaOH, with calcium stearate stabilizing the foam structure. Comparative analysis of the compressive strength, bulk density, porosity, and thermal conductivity shows that incorporating H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and calcium stearate significantly reduces thermal conductivity (from 0.19 to 0.06 W/m·K) while ensuring a highly porous system (66–82.6% porosity) with adequate mechanical strength (1.6–3.39 MPa). These findings highlight the potential of the developed geopolymer foam for sustainable insulation applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/6/970natural zeolitesilica fumeH<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>calcium stearategeopolymer foamsthermal conductivity |
| spellingShingle | Ethem Ilhan Şahin Jamal-Eldin F. M. Ibrahim Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Geopolymer Foams from Natural Zeolite Tuffs and Silica Fume: Effects of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and Calcium Stearate on Foam Properties Buildings natural zeolite silica fume H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> calcium stearate geopolymer foams thermal conductivity |
| title | Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Geopolymer Foams from Natural Zeolite Tuffs and Silica Fume: Effects of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and Calcium Stearate on Foam Properties |
| title_full | Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Geopolymer Foams from Natural Zeolite Tuffs and Silica Fume: Effects of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and Calcium Stearate on Foam Properties |
| title_fullStr | Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Geopolymer Foams from Natural Zeolite Tuffs and Silica Fume: Effects of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and Calcium Stearate on Foam Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Geopolymer Foams from Natural Zeolite Tuffs and Silica Fume: Effects of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and Calcium Stearate on Foam Properties |
| title_short | Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Geopolymer Foams from Natural Zeolite Tuffs and Silica Fume: Effects of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and Calcium Stearate on Foam Properties |
| title_sort | eco friendly synthesis of geopolymer foams from natural zeolite tuffs and silica fume effects of h sub 2 sub o sub 2 sub and calcium stearate on foam properties |
| topic | natural zeolite silica fume H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> calcium stearate geopolymer foams thermal conductivity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/6/970 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ethemilhansahin ecofriendlysynthesisofgeopolymerfoamsfromnaturalzeolitetuffsandsilicafumeeffectsofhsub2subosub2subandcalciumstearateonfoamproperties AT jamaleldinfmibrahim ecofriendlysynthesisofgeopolymerfoamsfromnaturalzeolitetuffsandsilicafumeeffectsofhsub2subosub2subandcalciumstearateonfoamproperties |